Although some people take birth control pills or use the birth control patch merely for its main purpose of controlling reproduction, others use it to balance their hormones or regulate their menstrual cycles.
Sometimes younger teens have painful periods or irregular periods, and their physician or gynecologist recommends birth control pills in order to get them on a more regular cycle. Grown women use them for this purpose as well. If you have been prescribed birth control for balancing hormones, it is important to know how long this will take to work.
Hormonal Imbalance Explained
Birth control pills are used to treat hormonal imbalance. This condition is typically caused by too much estrogen in a woman’s body, which is not balanced by an equal amount of progesterone. Often hormonal imbalance is caused by certain lifestyle factors such as stress, lack of good nutrition and too much or too little exercise.
Hormonal Imbalance Symptoms
Symptoms of hormonal imbalance include irregular periods, anxiety, depression, fatigue and facial hair growth. When these symptoms are present, you should consult your doctor to see if hormonal imbalance may be the cause.
Birth Control Pills for Treatment
Why are birth control pills used to treat hormonal imbalance in women? Largely, they are used because they contain synthetic hormones to help regulate the imbalance. As stated on Steadyhealth.com, in cases of hormonal imbalance, doctors will often prescribe birth control pills whether or not a woman is sexually active.
Length of Time to Balance Hormones
Birth control pills for hormonal imbalance are taken either continuously or in cycles. A health.com article on the use of birth control pills for treatment of imbalanced hormones and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (POS) explains how birth control pills are effective, even after a month. After two or three months, your hormones should be much more balanced, and you will find that your periods are far more regular and even less painful. The birth control patch and shot are newer available options for women to consider, which work the same way as the pill.
Taking the Pill
There are many birth control pills available today. Talk it over with your doctor. The dosages of the synthetic hormones vary with each pill. Plannedparenthood.com states that the average cost as of 2009 is $15 to $50 a month. Of course, this may vary depending on your insurance coverage. You only have to take your pill once a day.
If the pill you are on is not working to help with your hormonal imbalance in a reasonable length of time, talk to your doctor to consider another option.